Gloryful - 'Ocean Blade'

posted 26 Jun 2014, 12:55 by Paul Woodward

(Massacre
Records)

Review
By Woody

Ocean
Blade is the second album from German power metal outfit Gloryful. Much like the debut and the
EP before it Ocean Blade is a concept
album which follows on directly from its predecessors storylines. This time the
music takes to the high seas and adds a little nautical theme and sounds to the
style of the music. I’m not overly fond of concept albums but I know many power
metal fans crave these epic mythical storytelling opuses. It’s plain to see the
songwriters have a detailed narrative which is their basis of their songs and
they keep to it which should please fans of this style of storytelling.

I struggled with Ocean
Blade from the first full playback even though it does have elements that
appeal to me and usually with concept albums I’ll cherry pick songs which can
be enjoyed individually but no songs really stuck out for me here. It doesn’t
excite me and the lack of accessible choruses makes the songs unremarkable to
me, it really could do with a few more hooks to draw me in too. Another down
side for me is I’m not a big fan of vocalist Johnny La Bomba’s voice he moves
from gruff to high pitched and mixes it up a lot and showcases his obvious influences
like Rob Halford, but I’m just not won over by his voice.

The main redeeming feature to their music for me was
Basten and Papotto’s melodic guitar licks, these guys can definitely shred and
when their little melodic licks, solo’s and riffs make an appearance that’s
when I became interested, some of this stuff is straight out of the Iron Maiden
guide to riffology. That said these distinguishing moments don’t happen enough
to save most the songs and although I love their heavy use of folk edged
touches that give it that nautical flavour I think some people could be put off
by it, unless of course you’re a fan of Pirate Metal! Arrrhhh me hearties!

The song that sticks out for me is actually one that
doesn’t represent the album as a whole which is obviously not a good sign on my
thoughts on the album. It’s the acoustic ballad ‘Black Legacy’ which has its
nautical folk hat on and one of those swaying gang choruses akin to pirate
classic’s like ‘Yo ho ho and a bottle of Rum’ - seriously I’m not kidding!

Although Ocean
Blade doesn’t rock my boat (did I just make a funny?) I’m sure there is
enough here to keep power metal fans entertained – especially those who love
concept and storytelling albums. It’s modern power metal which is obviously
influenced by the British NWOBHM movement of the Eighties so therefore is worth
investigating if that sounds like your thing.